Watch winder



Feb. 24-, 1931. w c RQBETSON 1,794,033

WATCH WINDER Filed March 12, 1929 Patented Feb. 24,, 1931 WILLIAM- c.nonnnrsoiv, or nonoisns'rnn, ivrassaciiusnrrs WATCH WINDER Applicationfiled. March 12, 1929. Serial No. 346,483.

:The present invention relates to novel watch winders and stem pullers,A adapted for use in connection with ladies watchesiand wrist watches,although not limited; thereto. a n

Inwrist watches, and particularly ladies w i st watches, whiclrare ofsmallsize, it is.

agdiflficult, as well as adelicate operation, to wind the same, due tothe smallness of the crown the. fineness of the knurlin thereon a g aand the strength of the main spring of such watches, due to the reducedsize thereof. When vvinding by hand, it frequently occurs that thewinder will exert too much strength :5 and-jsnap the nain spring. As thetension on r the spring increases, also, the fingers of the winder maybe hurt by the knurled crown.

Furthermore, in watches of this type, the crown, which is of courseattached to the 9 main spring winding, stem, is set so close to the bodyof the watch as to render it difiicult to ull said crown and stem forthe purpose of setting the hands of the watch. Broken finger-nails areonly one of the many 5 difficulties associated with this particularoperation.

An important object of the present inveir tion, therefore, is theprovision of a device which will combine the properties of a winder anda stem uller, being provided with separate means or accomplishing eachof these operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device that willwind a watch to a desired degree, but which will render it substantiallyimpossible to break the main spring during use thereof.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means,preferably remote 4- from the winding device, to engage the crown of thewatch and separate it from the watch case a sufficient distance topermit. setting of the hands of said watch.

In carrying out my novel idea, I utilize as the winding medium of mynovel device a friction member, preferably rubber, although otherfriction material may be utilized if desired. This material will exertsufficient friction on the crown of the watch to wind F the main springthereof to the desired point,

particularly butwhen such. pointhas been reached, the friction materialwill slip over, said crown, thus apprising the operator that; the watchisfcompletely wound.

In order to effect the stem pulling opera tion, I provide mynovel devicewith a sub;

stantiallyM-shaped notch, preferably at the end remote fromthefrictionclutch member, ahclqjreferably bevel each side of the deviceadjacentto the said notch. This permits the, notchedend of the device tohe slid between the crown; and the case, and over the stem. The bevel orwedge shape of the. notched end will exert a preliminarypressure on thecrown of the watch, tending to force the same away, from the case of thewatch. Since my toiset the, hands of the watch.

My novel device may be madeof metal, celluloid,single or multiplycomposition, and. may he made in any desirable color or com; bination ofcolors It is inexpensive and simple to manufacture, is simple tooperate, andthe advantages of the same will be readily understood andappreciated by those skilled in the art, as Well as by the users.-thereof. y

I believe that the combined watch winder and stempuller above describedis novel, and. There therefore claimed the same broadly in the presentapplication.

The above and other features of the invention, details ofconstructionand advantages, willbe hereinafter more fully pointed out,described and claimed. a a i R ferring to the drawings, illustrating apreferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a perspective view of my novel device from the top thereof; a

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of said device from the botttom thereof;and a 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3 -3 of Fig. 2,illustrating the device in position for winding a watch.

Referring now to the drawings for a particular description of theinvention, 1 desig- Gil,

nates the body of my novel device. This body 1 may be formed of anydesirable material, such as metal, single or multi-ply celluloid,singleor multi-ply composition, ivory, or any material capable of suchuse, and may be produced in any desirable color or combinations ofcolor. If formed of multi-ply material,- the npper'layer may be of onecolor and the lower layer of a contrasting color, thus proside ofthe'material 4 is beveled, as at 5, to a relatively thin edge. Thus,when thedevice is appliedto awatch 9, as illustrated in Fig.

3, in which the crown 8 is close to the watch,

the beveled edge 5 will permit the friction material or clutch l toengage the crown 8 and upon movement thereover, to effect a windingthereof'and of the main spring.

The body 1 tapers-from theclutch end, as

clearly illustrated, and terminates in a substantially V-shaped notch6,]the sides of the 1 body 1 adjacent to said notch being beveled,

. It will thus be appreciated and understood 7 that I have devised asimple, economical, and

efficient device of this character, and one vwhich I believe is entirelynovel. 3

It will be appreciated that l may vary the size, shape and arrangementof the device within reasonably wide limits without da parting frointhespirit of theinvention.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims asfollows:

1. A'dcvice of the'kind described, comprising a body portion having agroove therein adjacent tov one end thereof, and a friction member insaid groove, the edge of said body portion adjacent to the outer edge ofsaid friction member being beveled to a relatively thin edge. 7

2. A manually operable watch winder,

comprising a plate having a substantially U-' shaped elongated groovetherein adjacent to one edge thereof, and an elongated friction memberin said groove adapted to engage the lmnrled crown of a watch, whereby aback and forth movement of said winder while said friction member is inengagement with said crown, will effect a winding of said watch. 1

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM C. ROBERTSON.

as illustrated at 7 This permits the notched end of the device to beinserted between the crown 8 and case 9, over the stem of the watch, andthe tapered portions 7 will effect a wedging action on the crown 8,tending to force said crown away from the Watch 9. If the wedgingvaction per se should not be sufficient, theoperator can tilt the device,and thuseffeet a more forcible separation of the crown from the watch,pulling the stem out a sufficient distance to permit setting of thehandsof the watch. Since'the material of which the device is formed, due toits thinness, will have an inherent flexibility, such flexibility willstill further assist in separating the crown from the case. Theadvantages of this feature will be instantly apparent, eliminatingbroken fingernails and other difficulties and troubles incident topulling the stem to set the hands. I

4 When winding a watch, it isonly necessary forthe operatortotake thedevice in one hand,- and if the watch is on the wrist for, example,tosimply apply the clutch member 4 to the crown of the watch, and rubthe same back and forth over the-crown. This rubbing,-and thefriction'of the clutch 4 on the knurled crown-8, will effect a Windingof the harmful effect on the watch or main spring.

